Railway car



June 15, 1965 R. MOWATT-LARSSEN 3,188,981

RAILWAY CAR Filed Jan. 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F IG 2 AGENT INVENTOR. ROLF MOWATT-LARSSEN June 1965 R. MOWATT-LARSSEN 3,188,981

RAILWAY CAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1964 INVENTOR. ROLF MOWATT LARSSEN AGENT United States Patent 3,183,981 RAILWAY CAR Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Bridgeton, MO., assigncr to AGE Industries, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Ian. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 338,072

4 Claims. (Cl. 105-368) This invention relates to railyway cars for transporting highway trailers and more particularly to an improved side sill structure for such railway cars.

In railway fiat cars of a so-called low level type for transporting highway trailers, the floor or deck of the railway car is positioned at as low an elevation as possible in order to provide the necessary overhead clearance for the highway trailers through tunnels and the like where limiting overhead clearances are encountered. It is desirable to have means along the sides of the flat car to position and guide the roadway wheels of the trailers as they are driven onto the car. For this purpose the side sill structure on each side of the car extends above the elevation of the deck and acts to strengthen the underframe as well as to guide the roadway wheels. The present invention constitutes an improvement on the side sill structure for each side'of the railway car.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a low level flat car for carrying highway trailers and the like in which the roadway wheels of a trailer are guided along the sides of a railway car to position the trailer properly on the railway car.

A further object of this invention is to provide a side 7 sill structure for each side of a low level fiat car for carrying trailers and the like which car is light weight in construction and economical to manufacture.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a side sill structure for each side of a low level flat car which reinforces the underframe against flexure while guiding the roadway wheels of highway vehicles to center the vehicles on the trailer.

The above objects are accomplished by the provision of a railway flat car having a side sill structure on each side of the flat car underframe extending substantially the length of the car, each side sill structure having a web with an upper portion extending above the level of the floor plate; and a rub rail structure on the inner surface of the web comprising a lower leg or flange extending over the floor plate, an upper flange secured to the Web and extending in a generally parallel relation to the lower frame, and a plate extending between and connecting the flanges for forming a rub rail against which the tires of a roadway vehicle may rub and be guided as trailers move along the railway car. Gther objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several or various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a railway flat car embodying the present invention adapted to transport trailers;

FIGURE 2 is a partial section taken generally along line 22. of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view of one end of a sidesill structure or" the flat car shown in FlGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan of the side sill structure shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken generally along line.55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged plan of a modification of my "Ice invention in which the sections forming the rub rail structure are not rigidly connected to each other;

FIGURE 7 is a partial section of a modification of the present invention in which the side sill structure embodies a generally channel-shaped side sill; and

FIGURE 8 is a partial section of a further modification similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 7 and showing the side sill structure extending in a vertical direction.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a railway flat car generally designated in has Wheel trucks 12 at each end thereof and is adapted to transport a pair of trailer (not shown). Collapsible trailer hitches H are hown in collapsed position on fiat car lit and when erected are adapted to secure the trailers on the flat car.

The underframe of railway car it) comprises a center sill generally designated 14 extending longitudinally along each side of the car, each having a vertical web 16 and a bottom cover plate 18. A plurality of transverse members or crossbearers 22 extend between center sills 14 and each is formed of a channel iron having upper and lower flanges 24. Cantilevered on web 16 of each center sill 14 is a plurality of stub crossbearers 26. Each stub cross bearer has a vertical web 28. Extending around the free edges of vertical web 28 is a continuous flange 30.

Forming the upper cover plate of center sill 14 is a lloor or deck plate designated generally 32 and having a portion cutout to form an intermediate opening 26. A Z member 34 extends around intermediate opening 36 and reinforces the adjacent edge of deck plate 32. The lower flange or Z member 34 is supported on crossbearers 22. For further details of flat car 10, reference is made to copending application Serial No. 293,092, filed July 5, 1953, and entitled Railway Car, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by this reference.

The improved side sill structure which constitutes my invention is indicated generally at 38 and includes a vertical web 40 adjacent each side edge of deck plate 32 and extending upwardly therefrom. An inturned bottom base member l2. is integral with web 40 and has an upturned flange 44 engaging the underside of deck plate 32. Web 4% has an upper outwardly sloping portion 46. Mounted on the upper ed e of portion 46 is a tubular head 48 which extends the length of car 16.

Mounted on the inner surface of tubular head 48 and web 46 is a rub rail structure generally designated 50 and being generally channel-shaped in cross section. Lower leg or flange 52 of rub rail structure 50 is secured, such as by welding, along its outer edge to web 40, and upper leg or flange 54 is secured, such as by welding, along its outer edge to tubular member 43. Connecting legs 32 and 54 is a connecting plate or web 56 formed integrally with legs 52 and 54 thereby to provide a generally channel-shaped rub rail structure 50. A tire or wheel of a trailer is indicated at W and rubs against or contacts rub rail structure St) if the trailer is not properly centered on railway car 10.

Referring to FIGURES 3-5, rub rail structure 56 is formed in a plurality of longitudinally extending intermediate sections 57 and end sections 58 which are mounted on each side sill structure 38. The ends of adjacent sections 57 and 58 are preferably butt welded to each other along seams 59 to form a continuous rub rail structure 50 whereby the rub rail functions as an integral structure under loading conditions and fiexure.

To guide the tire W as a trailer or tractor is being driven onto flat car ill, each end section 58 is tapered to merge gradually with vertical web 40 and tubular member 4-8 of the side sill structure. Tapered upper and lower legs 52a and 54a of each section 58 are integrally connected by plate 560. Forming the outer free end of ni'ennierasand"web"40. "As'a tractor'or'trailer first reaches the end of flat car 10 and is not centered properly, the tire will first rub against or contact tapered end sec- "tio'rf58 and be 'guidedthereby'onto intermediate rub rail section 57.

k ope'rnng T68"rnay be' 'spa ced alongfthelength of leg 5M6 pennir welding of leg 5210 web aorrem inside "rub rail structure 50 'and to'allowpainting the insideof'the "r'ub rails'trl'icture, 'ifde'sired. --In addition, openings 68 decreasethefw'eight ofthe rub rail structure. As openin s es prma theentry of water and otherforeign mat- "ter, it is desirable to have openings '69-'spaced along flange 52 and staggered' with 1 respect to openings 68 flange 54 'Theweld's inrubrail structure 50 "are disposed preferably al'ong the -upper corners of legsSZ and 54. As the force-"exertedby the tires'W is generally parallel to -1egs*'52"s4,the welds are primarily for the holding "ofrnU-rail 's't'rueture 50'in po'si'tion as only arelatively I srnall portion of the force exertedby tires W- is trans- "fnitt'ed to 'the welds. The welds along legs 5 2 and 54 may be interrr'iittent or "spaced longitudinally since subjected ern to a""rela'tivelys'mall portion of the force exertedby tires 'W. I h h I "In the loaded 'flat car 10,' rnaXimurn tension is along the f-up'per'por'tion of side sill structure 38. Rub rail structure being positioned adjacent the upper edge 'of side sill v "structure 38s'trengthens and stiffens 'side'sill strlicture 50 "against ileir'ure'froniloading and impact forces. Thus, rub rail structure "50 as illustrated in the 'embodii'nent of 'FIGURES 1-5 acts 'both as a stiffener and a guide "ni'e'r'nher. H Referring tdFIGURE 6, an embodiment of-the invention'is 'illustratedin which the "sections comprising the "rub'IaiPstructure '50Qare not tightly connected to each hither. The: side sillfstructur'e normally is -of-sufiicient 'strength'- 'toj adequately I resist bending or flexure without the increased stiffness aiforded by' theruh rail structure. "Each end of intermediate section "57*and the inner end 1 of each section 58 has an"outwardlybent'portion70extending bey'o'nd theadjacent'fianges 52,1541and52d, 54a

respectively. Adjacent bent portions 70fare not secured to eachnther'therebypermittingrub rail structure 50 to be easily Y secured to" side sill structure 38, such 'as by welding. This permits aielatively'fsir'nple secur'e'nient" of rats rail st'ructure' 5010" side sill structure 38 as adjacent.

sections 57, 58 do' not require seeurernent to 'eachZother "thereby r'e' 'uiringeniy a minim nn 'or time for fabrication;

It is to bennderstood that rub'rail stmcmreso' maybe 7 bolted toside 's'ill srructnressunfthe event it is desired to have a"removahle rub-rail. r Refer'r'ing' to' FIGURE 7, a modification 'of'the side sill structure is indicated by numerall'SSbQand includes a As various changes could be made. in the above construction withoutdepartingjfromthe scope of the 'invention, it.is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limit ing sense.

What is claimed is:

"1. In a railwaykflat 'c'anadapt'ed to' transport highway trailers, an uuderfraine comprising a center sillstructure extending substantially-the length of the 'underfrarne, a plurality of crossbearer niembersxspa'cedalong the length ofthe center sill structure and extending laterally therefrom, a-s'ide sillstruc'ture on each side jofthe -center -sill structure supported on the adjacent croSsbearer-memhers, a generally fiat deckplate adjacent"each side sill structure and disposed *at'a level below the upper surface bfV -the side sill' structure and adapted to support the "roadway wheels of highway trailers, each of the side sill structures comprising a sidef sill {web disposed adjacent the side edge of the adjacent deck plate andhaving "an upper portion extending above the level of the deck plate,yand"an integral generally channel-shaped rub rail structure Jon the inner surface 'of each side sill web -forrning w'ith "the side 'sill web a box- 'shaped structure :spaced from" the deck-plate, each channel-shaped rub railstructure comprising a lower legwel'ded to the upper portion oftheflassociatedside sill webat a'position'jabove "the deckplate and-extending in a generally lateral-direction .overthef deck platejin* generally ,parallel,"spaced relation, thereto, an upper legwelded to the upper portion of the associated side fsill'web injspaced parallel re- 'laticn to j the. lowerleg, and an integral connecting plate spacedinwardly'frorn the side ,sill and'ex'tending between the upperand lower legs adapted to contact and guide the tires of a highway trailer" on the railway c'ar.

.;2. 'In a railway flat. car for carrying roadway"'vehicles' having an underfra'me with'a centersill'f structure extending substantially the 'length"of the ;underfrarne, a plurality'of transverse members spaced along the length 40 of the eenter'sill structure, and a generally fiat deck plate adapted'tosupport the wheels of roadway vehicles, the improvement comprising a 'side sill structure on each sideof the center sill structure each having a side sill i webdisposed adjacent 'the-side'edge' "of the adjacent deck "j plate {and having an upper, portionextending above the "level'of the d'eck'plate,-}and,a' separate integral rub rail "'strueture'generaHy channeI 'shaped in cross section se- I cured to the inner. surface of eachside sill web,'the integraliubT'r'ail structures each hav-ing upper and lower flanges-extending overthe deck plate in agenerallyhori- 'iiaontal' direction and connected by an integral main body 7 plate spaced 'inwardly from the sidesillweb, whereby i channel shaped"'web 'rnerriber' '40b 'eirteric'ling upwardly 'alengsidefioor plate '32. Crossbearer. 225 extendszfrom member 40b to a 'ce'riter sill (not shown). ,"A br'a'ce or roadway-jvehicles carried on the railway-carare guided and centered on the; railway canbyxsaid rub-rail structu'res,--the lower-flange being s'pacedabove the deck plate 'and'extendingjin a. generally lateraldirection'; over the "inembers405 and56li are tilted slightl withresp ect to'the- ;vertical direction.

"'Referringto FIGURE 8:, another einbbdiainrbf the side sill structure ridicatedjr'r' which channel members 5 "38b and "505* amend 40p and 56b respeetively which 'de'ckplate in generally parallel spaced relation thereto -and being welded-tothe inner surface of-said'" side sill webisaidrub rail structureseach being taperedinwardly from each end of the car and merging gradually with the -respect-ive side sillweb whereby the- -span-between the rub railstructures at each end; ofthe railway *car is greater than the span between-the rub rail structures ineirtend in' a 'vertical direction. A' greater 'co'ritact of: rub

' ran structure sob'wirh 'tire'Wis' previded in mammarn'ientfof FlGURE 8when the'tire rubs gainsf hs r'u'b 5 "rail. It-"it*to"be understood that Tthe' rub rail structure may extend iati desired angle withrespect toja' vertical direction 'and'flaat, the1"side sill strueture'tSS mayhe .of

ragebusrssuus'o tained.

termediate the length of the railway ear so that trailers or the like 'arecentered on the railway car upon contact with the tapered-ends of v the rub rail structures; each frub ra l' structure comprising a plurality of'longitudina'lly extending sections aligned with each other' and 'spaced 0'. S g y from each other; theend' of each section having its 'btidy jplate' eiit'ending beyond its .upper -and lower fianges"withtheextending portion of each -bocly-plate turned outwardly'toward the adjacent side-si1l-to face the adjacent section while spaced slightly therefrom.

3 Ina-railway flat car asset forth in claim 2, said plurality of crossbearer members spaced along the length of the center sill structure and extending laterally therefrom, a side sill structure on each side of the center sill structure supported on the adjacent crossbearer members, a generally flat deck plate adjacent each side sill structure and disposed at a level below the upper surface of the side sill structure and adapted to support the roadway wheels of highway trailers, each side sill structure comprising a generally channel-shaped base secured to the adjacent crossbearer members beneath the deck plate and an integral upwardly directed web extending alongside and above the deck plate, said deck plate extending over the generally channel-shaped base in a generally parallel relation to the Web of the base and forming with the base a box-shaped section, and an integral generally channel-shaped rub rail structure on the inner surface of each side sill web forming a box-shaped structure spaced from the deck plate, each channelshaped rub rail structure comprising a lower leg Welded to the upper portion of the associated side sill web at a position above the deck plate and extending in a generally lateral direction over the deck plate in generally parallel spaced relation thereto, an upper leg welded to the upper portion of the associated side sill web in spaced parallel relation to the lower leg, and an integral connecting plate spaced inwardly from the side sill and extending between the upper and lower legs adapted to contact and guide the tires of a highway trailer on the railway car.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,001,935 5/35 Otis 105368 2,914,003 11/59 Seel et al. 105368 2,969,752 1/61 Terlecky 105368 3,063,386 11/62 Price 105-368 3,078,814 2/63 Candlin et al. 105-414 3,081,716 3/63 Szczepanik 105368 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

LEO QUACKENBUSH, Examiner. 

1. IN A RAILWAY FLAT CAR ADAPTED TO TRANSPORT HIGHWARY TRAILERS, AN UNDERFRAME COMPRISING A CENTER SILL STRUCTURE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH OF THE UNDERFRAME, A PLURALITY OF CROSSBEARER MEMBER SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE CENTER SILL STRUCTURE AND EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM, A SIDE SILL STRUCTURE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CENTER SILL STRUCTURE SUPPORTED ON THE ADJACENT CROSSBEARER MEMBERS, A GENERALLY FLAT DECK PLATE ADJACENT EACH SIDE SILL STRUCTURE AND DISPOSED AT A LEVEL BELOW THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE SIDE SILL STRUCTURE AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE ROADWAY WHEELS OF HIGHWAY TRAILERS, EACH OF THE SIDE SILL STRUCTURES COMPRISING A SIDE SILL WEB DISPOSED ADJACENT THE SIDE EDGE OF THE ADJACENT DECK PLATE AND HAVING AN UPPER PORTION EXTENDING ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE DECK PLATE, AND AN INTEGRAL GENERALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED RUB RAIL STRUCTURE ON THE INNER SURFACE OF EACH SIDE SILL WEB FORMING WITH THE SIDE SILL WEB A BOX-SHAPED STRUCTURE SPACED FROM THE DECK PLATE, EACH CHANNEL-SHAPED RUB RAIL STRUCTURE COMPRISIG A LOWER LEG WELDED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED SIDE SILL WEB AT A POSITION ABOVE THE DECK PLATE AND EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY LATERAL DIRECTION OVER THE DECK PLATE IN GENERALLY PARALLEL, SPACE RELATION THERETO, AN UPPER LEG WELDED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED SIDE SILL WEB IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO THE LOWER LEG, AND AN INTEGRAL CONNECTING PLATE SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE SIDE SILL AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER LEGS ADAPTED TO CONTACT AND GUIDE THE TIRES OF A HIGHWAY TRAILER ON THE RAILWAY CAR. 